Walking device

ABSTRACT

The combination of a stiff splint-like device for application to a cast on the user&#39;&#39;s lower leg and foot and tiltable therewith relative to the ground surface, and a ground-engaging resilient member rotatable horizontally about the upright axis of the device.

United States Patent [191 Stader 1 Dec. 25, 1973 1 1 WALKING DEVICE [76] Inventor: Richard O. Stader, 163 Harvest Ln.,

Chambersburg, Pa. 17201 22 Filed: Aug. 1, 1972 21 Appl.No.: 276,975

[52] US. Cl. 128/835 [51] Int. Cl. A611 5/04 [58] Field of Search 128/835; 3/4

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,481,332 12/1969 Arnold 128/835 2,264,570 12/1941 Holden 128/835 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 23,778 1901 Great Britain 128/835 212,974 1/1961 Austria 128/835 164,801 12/1949 Austria.... 128/835 564,989 11/1923 France 3/4 Primary ExaminerWilliam E. Kamm Assistant ExaminerRonald L. Frinks Attorney-Rodney Bedell et al.

[57] ABSTRACT The combination of a stiff splint-like device for application to a cast on the users lower leg and foot and tiltable therewith relative to the ground surface, and a ground-engaging resilient member rotatable horizontally about the upright axis of the device.

1 Claim, 5 Drawing Figures WALKING DEVICE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The device comprises a stirrup-shaped member with upright splint-like elements which may parallel the users lower leg and includes a lower portion having a downwardly facing flat platform mounting a groundcontacting member having an upwardly facing flat surface rotatable about a substantially vertical axis and having a convex lower surface adapted to rock on the ground to avoid straining the bones and muscles of the users leg and ankle. Preferably the ground-contacting member is of resilient material and distortable to engage the platform member and accommodates inclination and twisting of the users leg and foot relative to the ground irrespective of the horizontal rotation of the ground-contacting member on the platform.

Reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 2,547,570 showing a leg splint with a stirrup lower portion, and to U.S. Pat. 3,307,536 showing a plaster cast with a fixed spherical arc ground-contacting member, neither patent involving the relative rotation of the stirrup and the ground-engaging member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of the device applied to or embedded in a cast about a person's leg, ankle and foot.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the stiff stirrup-like frame of the device.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the structure shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a detail of the rotatable platform member mounted on the crosspiece shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 5 is a vertical section through the rotatable unit as applied to the stirrup crosspiece and is taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 1.

The side uprights ll of the device are connected by a crosspiece l2 and form a substantially U-shaped frame with lateral extensions 13 embedded in the plaster cast 14 when applied to the users leg and foot and enclosed in the usual wrapping. The bottom of the crosspiece is exposed at the bottom of the cast. Uprights 11 and crosspiece 12 may be integral or they may be formed separately and welded or riveted together. The crosspiece is widened and forms a flat downwardly facing platform 15.

A separately formed disc 16 is applied to the bottom of platform and has a peripheral ridge l7 and an upstanding journal element 19 with a head 20 normally engaging platform 15. The journal element is split longitudinally to permit its compression and the insertion of the head through an aperture 21 in crosspiece 12. A cup-shaped rubber tip 22 fits over disc 16, there being an undercut groove in the tip receiving ridge 17. The lower face of the tip is of convex generally spherical shape so as to rock on the ground during walking and is thickened and channeled to yield to uneven ground surfaces. The friction-controlled 360 relative rotary movement between the flat opposed faces of disc 16 and platform 15 facilitates normal rotation of the casted foot and leg about its longitudinal axis as the other foot advances ahead of the cast with each step and virtually eliminates the usual torque stress on the ends of the users fracture elements as is present in customary walking casts and the device eliminates pressure against the bottom of the foot present with usual rubber walking heels as the cast yields under the weight it is supporting.

The structure avoids unusual stresses in the framing, thus making the device more durable and more adequately reusable by the doctor.

Preferably the frame is of aluminum or plastic which is radiolucent and permits X-ray visualization of the users fracture without disturbing the walker parts or the cast.

Some of the features described may be eliminated, while others are retained, and the exclusive use of the combinations of elements expressed in the claims is contemplated.

I claim:

l. A walking device comprising an upright frame for attachment to a users leg and including a stirrup-like element at its lower end forming a substantially horizontal downwardly facing flat circular platform of hard smooth material, a member of smaller diameter rotatable horizontally beneath said platform and having a smooth flat upper face engaging said platform and a split compressible central journal extending upwardly through said platform and terminating in a downwardly facing shoulder normally overlying said platform, said smaller diameter member including a peripheral lower rib, and a cup-like element of resilient material receiving said member and recessed to receive said rib and having a convex ground-contacting lower face. 

1. A walking device comprising an upright frame for attachment to a user''s leg and including a stirrup-like element at its lower end forming a substantially horizontal downwardly facing flat circular platform of hard smooth material, a member of smaller diameter rotatable horizontally beneath said platform and having a smooth flat upper face engaging said platform and a split compressible central journal extending upwardly through said platform and terminating in a downwardly facing shoulder normally overlying said platform, said smaller diameter member including a peripheral lower rib, and a cup-like element of resilient material receiving said member and recessed to receive said rib and having a convex ground-contacting lower face. 